Free?: Stories About Human Rights

by Various, Amnesty International (Editor)

What does it mean to be free? Top authors donate their talents to explore the question in a compelling collection to benefit Amnesty International.

A boy who thinks that school is "slavery" learns the true meaning of the word when he stumbles on a secret child-labor factory. A Palestinian boy, mute from trauma, releases kites over a wall to a hilltop settlement, each bearing a message of peace. This inspiring, engaging anthology gathers an international roster of authors to explore such themes as asylum, law, education, and faith � from a riveting tale of an attempt to find drinking water after Hurricane Katrina; to a chilling look at a future where microchips track every citizen�s every move; to a hilarious police interrogation involving the London Tower, the Crown Jewels, and a Ghanaian boy with a passion for playing marbles. Features an introduction by British writer Jacqueline Wilson.

With stories by:
David Almond
Ibtisam Barakat
Malorie Blackman
Theresa Breslin
Eoin Colfer
Roddy Doyle
Ursula Dubosarsky
Jamila Gavin
Margaret Mahy
Patricia McCormick
Michael Morpurgo
Sarah Mussi
Meja Mwangi
Rita Williams-Garcia

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2010

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Armida D'Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, this isn’t the type of book I’d pick up to read, but because of where I was mentally and physically at the time, it was a good choice for me. I carried this book around with me for a while, skimming through the stories whenever I needed company. I love this book because the stories are a perfect length for sitting down and reading one at a time, getting up between sittings. The stories were not too long, and based on their topics, they were excellent for me to analyze and pick apart — one of the reasons why I love this book. Some of the endings were, yes, abrupt or seem to come out of nowhere, but the stories were crafted in away to allow the reader to think. As a reader who loves to analyze stories, whether book or short story, it gave me just enough to sink my teeth into so I could explore these narratives deeper. Excellent book for readers who love to think!

[Javaise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book because it seemed interesting after reading it I have found i dislike it some of the stories are confusing and others are very dull. Some of the stories seem to be ok but then end abruptly or make suddenly no sense.I would not recommend this book to others.I believe to enjoy this book you would have to like being kept thinking and slow reading.

[Dixie Keyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A multi-genre collection, written by dedicated authors, that could be useful to ELA and history teachers who facilitate a unit on human rights. Any piece from this book could be pulled forward to analyze and think more deeply about any of the human rights as defined and advocated for by Amnesty International. Would pair nicely with the PSA's available for free online.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the required summer reading for my rising 6th grader. I'm always curious to see what he is reading in school, so I read it first. Definitely for Middle School kids, but wonderful compilation of stories that help teach the kids the 30 articles of rights and freedoms set forth by Amnesty International.

[Shaznie Mardhiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good read abt human rights. teringat waktu final sem ada minor subject human right, rasa mcm amek law degree sekejap instead of dentistry. dapat A plak 😂

1st & last story were my fav (Klaus Vogel & The Bad lads by David Almond and No Trumpets Needed by Michael Morpungo)

and other stories in btwn that i like ; Prince Francis, If Only Papa Hadnt Danced, Uncle Meena and Setting Words Free.

[Genetic Cuckoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short quick-read book, aimed at children to explain human rights through short relatable stories. I did find many of the stories emotional and touching, and it is an interesting book which has been put together by Amnesty International with contributions from lots of famous authors. I was reading it on the day of my local town's Peace Picnic, which is quiet appropriate.

[Ailish Harkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Bisi Osho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love loved it

[Brigid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a whole lot more from this group of authors and Amnesty International. The premise of various authors writing about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights made me check the book out of the library and Almond's first story about Article 1 was simplistic but got the point across. Over all, I found the pieces far too feeble--young adults could appreciate more depth. That said, my favorites were 'After the Hurricane' for its gritty and powerful voice, 'Searching for a two-way Street' for its believably creepy and not too far off (if we don't stop it) future, and 'Setting Words Free' for its message however clumsily sent.

[Silvio Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of short stories for children, each of which is supposed to exemplify a human right from the U.N. declaration. The format doesn't work out very well. A few of the stories are moving, but some would insult a reader's intelligence at any age - I'm thinking in particular of one protagonist's story in a police interview of how he stole the British crown jewels by accident. Probably the most memorable is a story in free verse about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans with the government more concerned with policing the victims than helping them.

[Marie Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Review will be up shortly*